Biathlon: Léonie Jeannier returns to the IBU Cup
On Monday, just as her selection for the IBU Cup leg in Brezno-Osrblie (Slovakia) in place of Louise Roguet was made official, Léonie Jeannier made the (long) journey to the Slovakian venue. Along withOscar Lombardot, who has also been called up as back-up, the Doubiste native is back on the B circuit of world biathlon this week.
At the age of 22, and after two appearances in the IBU Cup in the last two seasons, Léonie Jeannier is back in the IBU Cup after a winter in which she dominated the French national circuit.
“My start to the season didn’t go as well as I would have liked, at least not for the first selection in Bessans at the beginning of November, she tells Nordic Magazine. I arrived there ill and I wasn’t able to get back into the swing of things with the resources I had. On top of that, my level of shooting was below what I’d imagined after all the work I’d done.”
A double in Les Saisies in December
Leaving her friends behind on the satellite World Cup circuit that she was aiming for in her first year as a senior, the member of the Les Verrières/La Cluse Ski Club, chaired by her younger sister Louise Jeannier, competed in the French Cup.
“There were some very good things, particularly at Les Saisies [where she won the sprint/chase double, editor’s note], she enthuses. It was a long period during which I was able to work, in particular during a long training camp in Les Saisies, so as not to lose my rhythm. To do that, I had to perform well throughout the national races so that I’d be ready if there was a turnover.”
The holder of the yellow bib, Léonie Jeannier saw the opportunity to move up to the IBU Cup arrive at the beginning of January, at the Prémanon (Jura) round. However, in the wind, she finished too far from the top places to take her ticket. “I didn’t think I’d get another chance to go up,” she says.
Buoyed by Paula Botet’s World Cup victory
However, last weekend in Les Contamines-Montjoie (Haute-Savoie), a new place was at stake. Winner of the short sprint and fourth in the short individual, Léonie Jeannier didn’t let the opportunity pass her by this time.
“I don’t think I did any better than at the start of the season. In fact, I think I was much better on the non-selective weekend than on the two where it was selective! I was also moved and touched by Paula [Botet]’s victory in the World Cup, says the Franc-Comtoise rider. It gave me a boost and told me that I had to dare and go for it. When it’s someone in your group who manages to win a World Cup, even if you knew she was capable of it, it gives you a positive impetus to dare and take risks to try and perform.”
In Slovakia, Léonie Jeannier will now focus on performing within a group that has so far been extremely impressive. “I want to put in place the things I’ve been working on in training, and I hope to see some good work come out of it. I’m honoured to be with five girls who are coming off an incredible week! I’m delighted to be here and I’m going in with a smile on my face,” she concludes.
- Léonie Jeannier replaces Louise Roguet, Oscar Lombardot returns: the French team for the IBU Cup in Brezno-Osrblie
- All the overall rankings for the 2024/2025 French Cup after the fourth stage in Les Contamines-Montjoie
